New look at linebacker for Patriots

The Patriots lost a physical presence at the linebacker position when Spikes shuffled off to Buffalo.

Over the course of the offseason, their depth at the position took a hit as both Spikes, a starter at the position, and Dane Fletcher, a backup, left as free agents.

But is there any question that a linebacker corps with Jerod Mayo and Collins on the outside and Dont’a Hightower in the middle is more athletic than one with Spikes wedged between Mayo and Hightower?

With Spikes on the injured reserve list last postseason, fans got a preview of coming attractions (so the Patriots hope, anyway) when Collins turned in a do-it-all performance in the Patriots' 43-22 divisional playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium.

Weaned for much of the regular season, at the end of that playoff game the 6-foot-3, 250-pounder had amassed six tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for losses, an 8-yard sack, and an interception he returned 20 yards. He also broke up another pass.

No stat sheet was necessary for Rob Ninkovich, though.

In the aftermath of that, the veteran defensive end anointed the 2013 second-round draft pick "one of those guys that’s got that ‘wow’ factor.’"

As for Spikes, hard-hitting both on the field and (often) off it, he’s already created a "wow factor" by tweeting that the Bills will sweep their two games with the Patriots this year.

That would be quite the turnaround, of course, since the Bills have lost 20 of their last 21 matchups with the Patriots and haven’t swept them since 1999, aka the Pete Carroll farewell tour in Foxboro.

Back to the present. While there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of concern about the Patriots’ starters at the position, depth is another matter, which is why the team went out and signed former Panthers and Bears linebacker James Anderson in June.

Limited to six games by a pectoral tear last year, Mayo is back, meaning, if history is any indication, so long as he remains healthy he’s on track for 100 tackles. Mayo has eclipsed the century mark in each of the five years with the Patriots in which he’s appeared in at least 13 regular-season games.

Hightower rebounded from a benching in the Pats’ 34-31 win over the Denver Broncos at Gillette last Nov. 24 to step up his play down the stretch.

With Hightower in the doghouse, Fletcher was summoned to take his place, but the Patriots no longer have that luxury. While Spikes moved on to Buffalo as a free agent during the offseason, Fletcher, a quality backup whose 15 tackles on special teams led the Patriots last year, relocated to Tampa Bay.

And therein lies the problem.

Beyond the 30-year-old Anderson, a 6-foot-2, 235-pounder who totaled 102 tackles last season, the Patriots’ depth at the linebacker position will come from a cast of players that consists of unprovens and special teamers.

Of that group, White has made the most significant contribution to the Patriots, totaling 10 tackles last season, nine on special teams.

It’s likely the Patriots give Beauharnais, a seventh-round draft pick in 2013 whom they seem to have hopes for, a second year to continue to develop.

White and Hull (a former Ram and Redskin signed during the offseason as a free agent) could be battling for a roster spot with special teams weighing heavily in that decision.

Both Fleming (signed after two injury-plagued seasons in San Francisco) and Gordon (a rookie free agent who played multiple positions at Michigan) could contribute some athleticism at the position and may bear watching as training camp progresses.